Come all you good people and lend me your ear
I got a sad story that you oughta hear
The wind it was howlin' 'round Sam Older's shack
The night that his killer stepped out of the black
And shot Sam down from the rear

Wes Tancred, Wes Tancred
A pal right down to the end
Wes Tancred, Wes Tancred
The black-hearted, white-livered, backbitin' sidewinder
Murdered his own best friend

It happened on Friday the thirteenth of May
The coroner carried Sam Older away
If I don't know nothin'
There's one thing's a fact
The hole was much bigger in front than in back
Now you don't kill a brave man that way

Wes Tancred, Wes Tancred
A pal right down to the end
Wes Tancred, Wes Tancred
The black-hearted, white-livered, backbitin' sidewinder
Murdered is own best friend

Now folks when you sleep
Put a bolt on your door
Wes Tancred is loose with his Colt 44
Don't lie on your stomach when you go to bed
'Cause he'll take a shot at the back of your head
The way he done it before

Wes Tancred, Wes Tancred
A pal right down to the end
Wes Tancred, Wes Tancred
The black-hearted, white-livered, backbitin' sidewinder
Murdered is own best friend